ADPH welcomes new powers for social housing regulator

The Government have announced that large social housing providers will be held to account through routine inspections and gradings to ensure landlords are providing decent housing for residents.

Responding to today’s announcement by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rachel Wigglesworth, Policy Lead for Healthy Places for the Association of Directors of Public Health, said:

“The buildings we live in play a critical role in determining our immediate – and longer term – health outcomes. While there are many good social housing providers and landlords, there are currently far too many people living in housing that is cold, damp or in a state of disrepair.

“The new powers for the Regulator of Social Housing announced today are therefore very welcome and will enable tenants to secure better living conditions and be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

“We would also like to see more action to tackle poor conditions in the private rented sector so that everyone can live in housing that promotes good health and wellbeing and prevents people developing avoidable health conditions that not only limit people’s lives and ability to work, but also place demands on our already stretched health and social care services.”